Adaptive food preparation automation and control

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are provided to facilitate adaptive control for food preparation. First input may be received from a first set of sensors, consequent to detecting a presence of a load on a portion of a heating device. A location of the load with respect to the heating device may be determined. Second input may be received from a second set of sensors, consequent to detecting temperature corresponding to the load. Third input received from a set of devices may be processed, and an adjustment may be determined based on the temperature and the third input. The heating device and/or devices proximate to the heating device may be caused to activate, deactivate, and/or change a setting in accordance with the adjustment.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure generally relates to Internet of Things (IoT), and moreparticularly to facilitating adaptive food preparation automation andcontrol.

The development of IoT devices and associated applications and servicesmay be a complex proposition. Fully realizing the potential for IoTdevices in various applications may present a number of challenges andproblems involving field devices, edge devices, networkoperations/management software, security, device management, and more.There is a need for systems, devices, and methods that address thechallenges and problems encumbering development and deployment of IoTdevices and that provide for more particularized and useful features.This and other needs are addressed by the present disclosure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to IoT,and more particularly to facilitating adaptive food preparationautomation and control.

In one aspect, a method for adaptive control for food preparation isdisclosed. The method may include one or a combination of the following.First input may be received by a control device from a first set of oneor more sensors communicatively coupled to the control device,consequent to the first set of one or more sensors detecting indicia ofa presence of a load on a portion of a heating device. The first inputmay correspond to the detected indicia of the presence of the load. Thefirst input from the first set of one or more sensors may be processedby the control device to determine a location of the load with respectto the heating device. Second input may be received by the controldevice from a second set of one or more sensors communicatively coupledto the control device, consequent to the second set of one or moresensors detecting indicia of temperature corresponding to the load. Thesecond input from the second set of one or more sensors may be processedby the control device to determine a temperature corresponding to theload based at least in part on the second input. Third input receivedfrom a set of one or more devices may be processed by the controldevice, and an adjustment may be determined based at least in part onthe temperature and the third input, the adjustment corresponding toactivating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of the heatingdevice and/or one or more devices coupled with the heating device tocause a change corresponding to the load. The heating device and/or oneor more devices proximate to the heating device may be caused, by thecontrol device, to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting inaccordance with the adjustment.

In another aspect, a system to facilitate adaptive control for foodpreparation is disclosed. The system may include one or more processingdevices and memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the oneor more processing devices and having stored therein machine-readableinstructions which, when executed by the one or more processing devices,cause the one or more processing devices to perform operations includingone or a combination of the following. First input may be received froma first set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to thecontrol device, consequent to the first set of one or more sensorsdetecting indicia of a presence of a load on a portion of a heatingdevice, the first input corresponding to the detected indicia of thepresence of the load. The first input from the first set of one or moresensors may be processed to determine a location of the load withrespect to the heating device. Second input may be received from asecond set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the controldevice, consequent to the second set of one or more sensors detectingindicia of temperature corresponding to the load. The second input fromthe second set of one or more sensors may be processed to determine atemperature corresponding to the load based at least in part on thesecond input. Third input received from a set of one or more devices maybe processed, and an adjustment may be determined based at least in parton the temperature and the third input, the adjustment corresponding toactivating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of the heatingdevice and/or one or more devices coupled with the heating device tocause a change corresponding to the load. The heating device and/or oneor more devices proximate to the heating device may be caused toactivate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with theadjustment.

In yet another aspect, one or more non-transitory, machine-readablemedia having machine-readable instructions thereon which, when executedby one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processingdevices to perform one or a combination of the following. First inputmay be received from a first set of one or more sensors communicativelycoupled to the control device, consequent to the first set of one ormore sensors detecting indicia of a presence of a load on a portion of aheating device, the first input corresponding to the detected indicia ofthe presence of the load. The first input from the first set of one ormore sensors may be processed to determine a location of the load withrespect to the heating device. Second input may be received from asecond set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the controldevice, consequent to the second set of one or more sensors detectingindicia of temperature corresponding to the load. The second input fromthe second set of one or more sensors may be processed to determine atemperature corresponding to the load based at least in part on thesecond input. Third input received from a set of one or more devices maybe processed, and an adjustment may be determined based at least in parton the temperature and the third input, the adjustment corresponding toactivating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of the heatingdevice and/or one or more devices coupled with the heating device tocause a change corresponding to the load. The heating device and/or oneor more devices proximate to the heating device may be caused toactivate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with theadjustment.

In various embodiments, the temperature may correspond to a temperatureof an external portion of the load. In various embodiments, thetemperature may correspond to a temperature of an internal portion ofthe load. In various embodiments, the set of one or more devices mayinclude the first set of one or more sensors or a third set of one ormore sensors. The third input from the first set of one or more sensorsor from the third set of one or more sensors may be analyzed todetermine a state of the load in the location based at least in part onthe third input. The determining the adjustment may be based at least inpart on the state of the load. In various embodiments, the state of theload may correspond to an activity or inactivity with respect to theload in the location with respect to at least a threshold period oftime.

In various embodiments, set of one or more devices may include a mobiledevice. The third input from the mobile device may be processed, and thedetermining the adjustment may be based at least in part on the thirdinput. In various embodiments, the causing may include causing cause achange in one or both of position and temperature corresponding to theload.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofthe disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of variousembodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. Inthe appended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a system to facilitate adaptive foodpreparation automation and control, in accordance with disclosedembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates certain aspects of the system, in accordance withdisclosed embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a subsystem to facilitate adaptive control, inaccordance with disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for adaptive control, in accordancewith disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates certain aspects of the system, in accordance withdisclosed embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates aspects of a computer system that may be incorporatedas part of the system controller and devices, in accordance withdisclosed embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) only,and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configurationof the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferredexemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with anenabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodimentof the disclosure. It should be understood that various changes may bemade in the function and arrangement of elements without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodimentsmaybe practiced without these specific details. For example, circuitsmay be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodimentsin unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits,processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown withoutunnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a processwhich is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, astructure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describethe operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when itsoperations are completed, but could have additional steps not includedin the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, aprocedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process correspondsto a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the functionto the calling function or the main function.

Various embodiments will now be discussed in detail with reference tothe accompanying figures, beginning with FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates adiagram of an overview of an embodiment of a system 100 to facilitateadaptive food preparation automation and control, in accordance withembodiments of present disclosure. For brevity, system 100 is depictedin a simplified and conceptual form, and may generally include more orfewer systems, devices, networks, and/or other components as desired.Further, the number and types of features or elements incorporatedwithin the system 100 may or may not be implementation-specific.

The system 100 may correspond to certain embodiments for foodpreparation monitoring and control. The system 100 may include a systemcontroller 108. The system controller 108 may be configured to manageone or more other components of the system that communicatively coupledto the system controller 108 via any suitable means, including wiredand/or wireless connections. The system controller 108 may becommunicatively coupled to one or more control and/or notificationinterfaces 106. In some embodiments, one or more interfaces 106 may becapable of user notification, showing the status, configuration data,and/or the like. The system controller 108 may provide a user interface(e.g., via an interface 106) to allow for output of information to auser and for input from user with one or more user-selectable interfaceelements. In various embodiments, an end-user interface may includeproviding one or more display screens that may each include one or moreuser interface elements. An end-user interface may include any text,image, and/or device that can be displayed on a display screen forproviding information to a user and/or for receiving user input. Anend-user interface may include one or more icons, widgets, buttons,checkboxes, text, text boxes, text fields, tables, lists, and/or thelike. The one or more interfaces 106 may be devices that are directly orindirectly connected to the system controller 108 and may receiveinformation, such as notifications, from the system controller 108.

A control interface 106 may include a computing device configured with acontrol application. In some embodiments, control may be allowed frommultiple devices around a premises interfacing to the system controller108. With some embodiments, the system 100 may also allow control fromoutside of the premises by way of a control interface 106, in which casecontrol is likely to be routed by way of the one or more networks 120and servers in the cloud. In various embodiments, the interfaces 106 mayinclude one or more endpoint devices 106 such as various computerizeddevices 106 that may be associated with a user in the system 100 andthat may be configured to facilitate various surfacing of contentfeatures, providing user-selectable interface elements, and allowing ofuser input features as disclosed in various embodiments herein. Asindicated, the computing devices 106 may include a laptop computer, acellular phone and/or smartphone, a tablet computer, smart glasses, asmart watch, or another similar form of wearable computing device oranother similar form of mobile device. In some embodiments, thecomputing devices 106 may include a desktop computer, a kiosk, atelevision receiver directly or indirectly coupled to one or moredisplay devices, such as a television or a monitor, a set-top box (whichmay include a television receiver, in some embodiments), a television(which may include a television receiver, in some embodiments), anotherhousehold device, and/or the like. The computing devices 106 may provideaccess credentials to the system controller 108 in order for the systemcontroller 108 allow authenticated access to content and featuresaccessible through the system controller 108. It should be understoodthat the computing devices 106 are exemplary in nature. Access may beprovided through a fewer or greater number of computerized devices 106communicatively couplable with the system controller 108.

The system controller 108 may provide one or more administratoryinterfaces 102. An administratory interface 102 may include one or acombination of the features of the other interfaces 106, such as one ormore icons, widgets, buttons, checkboxes, text, text boxes, text fields,tables, lists, and/or the like interface elements. Additionally, theadministratory interface 102 may be further configured to provideadministratory access to the system controller 108, the sensors 116,controllers 126, and/or the devices 136. In various embodiments,administratory interfaces 102 may be accessed via a computing device ofone or more of the types disclosed herein. In various embodiments, theadministratory interfaces 102 may correspond to one or more serversystems, computer systems, databases, websites, portals, anyrepositories of data in any suitable form, and/or the like thatfacilitate the administratory access over the components of the system100, allowing administratory access all or portions of the componentsspecifications, configurations, settings, thresholds, diagnostics,operations, corresponding content fetaures disclosed herein, and/or thelike. For example, administratorty access may allow setting and/oroverride of ajdustment features disclosed herein, adding and removingsensors 116, generating one or more operational interrupts to interruptoperations of the sensors 116, controllers 126, and/or the devices 136,cause one or more notifications to devices 106, controllers 126, and/orthe devices 136, adjust one or more thresholds for adjustments 382,and/or the like. As another example, the system controller 108 may beconfigured to provide rolling windows of sensor-captured phenomena to beexposed via an administratory device 102 for a period of time before atriggering event and after the triggering event.

The system controller 108 may be configured to communicate with multiplesensors 116. For example, the system controller 108 may be configured toreceive sensor data from one or more sensors and/or sensor systems 116.Such communication may use different communication standards orprotocols. The system controller 108 may be configured to providesignals for controlling one or more device controllers 126, which may becontrol units and/or systems. The device controllers 126 may beintegrated with, or otherwise communicatively coupled to, one or morecorresponding devices under control 136. The system controller 108 mayprovide a link when necessary between the communication protocol used bythe device controllers 126 and the communication protocol used by aninterface 116. In some embodiments, this may be a bridge between Zigbeeand Wi-Fi, for example. In certain embodiments, the system controller108 may include a monitoring and control module 120. In someembodiments, the system controller 108 may be directly connected orcoupled to one or more control units 126 and/or sensors 116. Sensors andcontrol units may be wired or wirelessly coupled to the systemcontroller 108. Sensors and control units may be coupled and connectedin a serial, parallel, star, hierarchical, and/or the like topologiesand may communicate to the television receiver via one or more serial,bus, or wireless protocols and technologies which may include, forexample, Wi-Fi, CAN bus, Bluetooth, I2C bus, ZigBee, Z-Wave and/or thelike.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include one or moremonitoring/control modules 120 which could be external to the systemcontroller 108. In some embodiments, the system controller 108 mayinterface to one or more sensors and control units via one or moremonitoring/control modules 120. The external monitoring/control modules120 may be wired or wirelessly coupled to the system controller 108. Insome embodiments, the monitoring/control module 120 may connect to thesystem controller 108 via a communication port such as a USB port,serial port, and/or the like. In some embodiments, themonitoring/control module 120 may connect to the system controller 108via a wireless communication protocol such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave,ZigBee, and/or the like. The external monitoring/control module mayinclude a separate device that may be positioned near the systemcontroller 108 or may be in a different location, remote from the systemcontroller 108. In various embodiments, one or more system controllers108 may be disposed on the same premises as all or a subset of the oneor more sensors 116, one or more device controllers 126, and/or devices136, and/or may be located remotely off the premises. In someembodiments, one or more system controllers 108 may be communicativelycoupled to all or a subset of the one or more sensors 116, one or moredevice controllers 126, and/or devices 136 via the one or more networks120 and a server system in the cloud.

Monitoring and control module(s) 120 may be communicatively coupled tocomponents such as sensors 116. Sensors 116 may include any one orcombination of temperature sensors, humidity sensors, soundsensors/microphones, proximity sensors, cameras, infrared detectors,motion sensors, weight sensors, and/or the like. In some embodiments,one or more sensors 116 may include one or more cameras configured tohave a field of view that may detect one or more loads (e.g., fooditems) in proximity to the one or more sensors 116. In some embodiments,the one or more sensors 116 may be configured to capture images and/orother indicia of load states, such as any one or combination of: ambienttemperature proximate to the load (e.g., within 1 to 5 inches or morefrom the load); surface temperature of the load; surface temperature ofa surface underneath the load and/or proximate to the load (e.g., within1 to 5 inches or more from the load); movement of the load; non-movementof the load as a function of time (e.g., how long the load has remainedstationary since a last detected movement, such as being flipped);position of the load; colors and color changes of the load as a functionof time; and/or the like. As disclosed herein, the system controller 108may process and analyze such sensor data to determine any one orcombination of such load states as a function of time and developparticularized load profiles that chronicle the load states of theparticular loads.

In some embodiments, monitoring and control module(s) 120 may becommunicatively coupled to components such as device controller 126.Device controllers 126 may include any number of switches, solenoids,solid state devices and/or the like configured for controlling (e.g.,communicating with, adjusting setting of, activating, deactivating,initiating processes, and/or the like) sensors 116, devices undercontrol 136, turning on/off and otherwise adjusting settings ofelectronics, and/or the like. One or more of the device controllers 126may be configured to be able to send control commands to devices undercontrol 136. In various embodiments, a device under control 136 and/or adevice controller 126 may correspond to a cooking device, a heatingdevice, a heating element, an appliance, and/or the like. In someembodiments, additionally or alternatively, a device under control 136and/or a device controller 126 may correspond to a computing device,such as a laptop computer, a cellular phone and/or smartphone, a tabletcomputer, smart glasses, a smart watch, integrated audio/video systems,touchscreen displays, and/or one of the other computing devicesdisclosed herein. In some embodiments, a device controller 126 may be adevice that plugs in to an electrical outlet of a premises, and otherdevices, such as an appliance, may be plugged into the device. Invarious embodiments, one or more of the device controllers 126 may bepart of other devices and/or systems 136 or may be communicativelycoupled with other devices and/or systems 136 but physically separatetherefrom. By way of example, a device controller 126 may be part of orotherwise correspond to a cooking device, a heating device, a heatingelement, an appliance, computing device, and/or another electric orelectronic device. In some embodiments, the device controllers 126 of asystem may be controlled via a communication or control interface of thesystem. For example, the cooking device settings may be configurableand/or controlled via a communication interface of the cooking device136. device controller 126 may be individually and uniquelyidentifiable. One or more of the sensors 116 and/or device controllers126 may be combined into assemblies or units with multiple sensingcapabilities and/or control capabilities. A single module may include,for example, a temperature sensor and a motion sensor, another modulemay include an image sensor and a control unit, etc.

Various embodiments of the system 100 may include multiple sets of oneor more sensors 116, e.g., two, three, four, ten, or many more sets ofone or more sensors. In some embodiments, one or more sensors 116 may bepart of a device under control 136 (e.g., a cooking device, heatingdevice, appliance, and/or the like) of a premises and/or a devicecontroller 126 corresponding to the device under control 136. Severalsets of one or more sensors 116 may be configured to capture phenomenaat one or more heating devices (e.g., cooking devices) which may or maynot be devices under control 136 in various embodiments. Additionally oralternatively, several sets of one or more sensors may be configured tocapture phenomena at a single heating device and at different locationsat, on, and/or proximate to the heating device. In various embodiments,one or more sets of one or more sensors 116 may be integral or otherwisecommunicatively coupled to a heating device (which may or may not be adevice under control 136 in various embodiments), to a device controller126, and/or the system controller 108. Additionally or alternatively, invarious embodiments, one or more sets of one or more sensors 116 may beintegrated with or external to a heating device (which may or may not bea device under control 136 in various embodiments), to a devicecontroller 126, and/or the system controller 108.

A plurality of sensors 116 may include different types of sensors 116,each different type of sensor 116 configured to detect a different typeof phenomena and/or generate a different type of data based on thedetected phenomena. Thus, a multiplicity of integrated and/ornon-integrated sensors may be configured to capture phenomena at asingle heating device in order to identify aspects of the device,devices states, one or more loads at the device, load states, and/or theenvironment proximate to the device and/or one or more loads, e.g., tofacilitate any one or combination of image recognition, locationdetection, temperature sensing, infrared impressions, heat impressions,gestures, movement recognition, and/or the like. In various embodimentsdisclosed herein, features are disclosed with respect to capturing,analyzing, transmitting, and causing presentation of images with respectto a load. Such image features are to be understood as involving,utilizing, and providing singular images and/or a plurality of imagessuch as video in various embodiments, even though video may not beexplicitly discussed in reference to specifics of such image features.Data captured from such sensors 116 may be used in identification andadaptive control processes disclosed herein.

During operation of the system 100, readings from the sensors may becollected, processed, stored, analyzed, modified, and augmented in thesystem controller 108. In certain embodiments, analysis of the sensorsand control of the control units may be determined with configurationdata 124 stored in the system controller 108. The configuration data 124may define how the sensor data is collected, how often, what periods oftime, what accuracy is required, what resolution is required, and othercharacteristics. The configuration data 124 may specify specific sensorand/or control unit settings for a monitoring and/or controlapplication. The configuration data 124 may define how the sensorreadings are processed, analyzed, and/or utilized. For example, for someapplications, sensor analysis may include collecting sensor readings andperforming time-based analysis to determine trends. For otherapplications, sensor analysis may include monitoring sensor readings todetermine if a threshold value of one or more sensor readings has beenreached. POSSIBLE PLACE TO ELABORATE ON LEARNING FROM SENSOR DATA Thefunction of the system 100 may be determined by loading and/oridentifying configuration data 124 for an application. In someembodiments, the system 100 may be configured for more than onemonitoring or control operation by selecting or loading the appropriateconfiguration data 124. Configuration data 124 may define monitoringoperations, reactive measures, activation constraints for components ofthe system, and/or the like.

Readings processed by the monitoring and control modules 120 may belogged and analyzed by the data processing and storage module 122. Thedata processing and storage 122 module may analyze the received data andgenerate control signals, schedules, and/or sequences for controllingcomponents. The data processing and storage module 122 may, for example,receive sensor data from temperature sensors 116, images sensors 116,motion sensors 116, location sensors 116, and/or the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates certain aspects of the system 100-1, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2, the system controller 108 may include an adaptive gateway 110. Insome embodiments, the system controller 108 may not include an adaptivegateway 110 but may be communicatively coupled therewith. The adaptivegateway 110 may be a separate media device that is distinct from, andcommunicating with, one or more IoT devices according to an IoT networkprotocol. For example, the adaptive gateway 110 may communicate with oneor more sensor devices 116 within range of the adaptive gateway 110wireless communications links. In various embodiments, the adaptivegateway 110 may facilitate communication of the one or more sensordevices 116 via the networks 120, and may also facilitate communicationof multiple sensor devices 116 with each other by forming, for example,a LAN, a WAN, a HAN, a WLAN, and/or the like at various localities.

In some embodiments, the adaptive gateway 110 may include a Layer 3network gateway device. In some embodiments, the adaptive gateway 110may provide a bridge from one or more sensor devices 116 to a 5Gwireless network of the networks 120. The adaptive gateway 110 mayinclude any suitable routers, switches, modems, wireless transceivers,wired ports, etc., one or more processors, and input-output (I/O)interfaces, and one or more types of memory, with an operating systemand instructions stored in non-transitory memory such that the adaptivegateway 110 may be configured to function as a special-purpose computerto provide the intelligent sensor control features in accordance withvarious embodiments disclosed herein. The adaptive gateway 110 maydifferentiate and indicate different types of traffic, and intelligentlyroute traffic suitable for a next-generation network (e.g., 5G wirelessnetwork and beyond), as well as other traffic.

The adaptive gateway 110 may be configured to communicate with aplurality of sensor devices 116, identify received transmissions fromthe sensor devices 116 in particular types of protocols, and then routethe different types of packets differently, with prioritization anddifferent network slicing based at least in part on one or a combinationof types of sensor devices 116, sensor data, network technologies,and/or packet types. In various embodiments, the adaptive gateway 110may be configured to receive a multiplicity of transmissions accordingto a multiplicity of communications protocols that may corresponding toone or a combination of any suitable radio frequency communications,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (BLE), LTE, 5G, 4G, communications per the NBIOTstandard, next-generation wireless networks such as video per the ATSC3.0 standard, and/or the like. In various embodiments, the adaptivegateway 110 may be configured with a variety of different modules 312,336 to manage a variety of different networks of sensor devices 116and/or may self-configure by downloading different modules 312, 336and/or applications 224 responsive to detecting a particular sensordevice 116 and determining the corresponding sensor type and module 312,336 and/or application 224 needed for communication with the particularsensor device 116. Accordingly, the adaptive gateway 110 may beconfigured to include communication interface modules 336. Thecommunication interface modules 336 may correspond to IoT modules thatmay, for example, include radio modules that plug into slots within theadaptive gateway 110 and host a local-area-network (LAN) over an RFinterface. For example, the communication interface modules 336 mayinclude a certain RF frequency module 336-1 (various embodiments mayprovide for various numbers of channels and channel ranges), a NBIOTmodule 336-2, a WiFi/BLE module 336-3, and/or the like modules (LTE, 5G,4G, various low-power wide-area network modules, etc.) corresponding toone or more of the multiplicity of communications protocols. Theadaptive gateway 110 may include one or more relays 220,drivers/adaptors 216, and modules 312 that facilitate transfer of datafrom applications 224 to the system controller 108 and vice versa. Thedrivers/adaptors 216 may include the software necessary to operate thedifferent interfaces and corresponding modules 312 specificallyconfigured for the particular network connections (e.g., LTE, 5G, 4G,NBIOT, Ethernet, WiFi, LPWAN, and/or the like).

The communications interfaces corresponding to the communicationinterface modules 336 and/or 312 may, for example, be capable oftransmitting and receiving information wirelessly through both shortrange, radio frequency (RF), cellular, Wi-Fi, and/or the likeconnections. The communications interfaces may, for example, provide anear field communication interface (e.g., Bluetooth, optical interface,infrared interface, etc.) and/or wireless communications interfacescapable of communicating through a cellular network, Wi-Fi, and/or thelike. In various embodiments, the communications interfaces maycorrespond to a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infraredcommunication device, a wireless communication device, and/or a chipset(such as a Bluetooth™ device, an 802.11 device, a Wi-Fi device, a WiMAXdevice, cellular communication device, etc.), and/or the like in theadaptive gateway 110. The communication interface(s) corresponding tothe communication interface module(s) 336 and/or 312 may include atleast one antenna for wireless data transfer according to thecommunications protocol(s). For example, the antenna may include acellular antenna (e.g., for sending and receiving cellular datacommunication, such as through a network such as a 3G, 4G, or 5Gnetwork).

The application layer communications of the adaptive gateway 110 maysupport a command/response protocol, where commands are messages thatinstruct a device or application to take some action, and responses aremessages that return the result of the command message. These messagesmay begin with a command byte and may be followed by one or more bytesof data. The adaptive gateway 110 may include a message dispatcher 232configured to manage traffic to and from the different sensor devices116. The message dispatcher 232 and the modules 336 may becommunicatively connected by way of one or more serial communicationlinks. The message dispatcher 232 may, for example, managecommunications between the modules 336 and applications 224. Thedifferent applications 224 that reside on the adaptive gateway 110 mayconsume data generated by corresponding sensor devices 116. The messagedispatcher 232 may interconnect the various applications 224 to thevarious modules 336. While in some embodiments the various components(e.g., modules 312, modules 336, drivers and adaptors 216, relay 220,applications 224, message dispatcher 232, etc.) may be separate anddistinct as illustrated, one or more of the components may be integratedin various embodiments. The message dispatcher 232 may direct trafficand route communications between the applications 224 and modules 336.

Over the lifecycle of the adaptive gateway 110, the routing table 228may be populated as devices are plugged in. For example, when a module336 is plugged in and the adaptive gateway 110 is powered up, theadaptive gateway 110 may discover the module 336 and may create one ormore entries in the routing table 228. When a user interface is exposedto endpoints to add one or more sensor devices 116, the adaptive gateway110 may add identification, specification, and authorization informationfor those sensor devices 116 to the routing table 228 so the messagedispatcher 232 may subsequently understand that a particular application224 is authorized to communicate with a sensor device 116 connected to aparticular module 336 and the routing table 228 may provide the routingfor the communications. For example, after an entry is added in therouting table 228 to define a route from a particular sensor device 116and/or module 336 to a particular application 224 (and vice versa), themessage dispatcher 232 may use the routing table 228 to identify areceived message target. In various embodiments, the sender may provideits ID with or without a target ID, and the message dispatcher 232 mayverify the authenticated routed and then transfer the message.

In some embodiments, each module 336 may maintain a list with assignedslot numbers and unique IDs of the sensor devices 116 with which themodule 336 communicates. Every time the sensor device 116 communicates,the module 336 may use the list to authenticate the communication. Themodule 336 may determine whether it recognizes the sensor device 116sending the communication and whether the sensor device 116 iscommunicating within a correct time slot to which the sensor device 116is assigned. Once the communication is authenticated, the module 336 maypass the communication to the application 224 that is to consume thedata from the sensor device 116. In alternative embodiments, the messagedispatcher 232 may maintain a whitelist (e.g., in the routing table 228)for all the sensor devices 116 and may perform the communicationauthentications.

In various embodiments, one or more methods employed by the adaptivegateway 110 to control orchestration of sensor devices 116 and devices106 over one or more networks 120 may include broadcast communications,receiving and processing sensor device responses, and assigning timeintervals. For example, the adaptive gateway 110 may broadcast a firstelectronic on one or more channels of a plurality of different channels,where the first electronic broadcast is broadcasted in a first time slotof a time interval. The adaptive gateway 110 may receive and process anelectronic response from a first sensor device 116 in response to thebroadcasting of the first electronic broadcast, where the electronicresponse from the first sensor device is received in a second time slotof the time interval. The adaptive gateway 110 may transmit anelectronic communication to the first sensor device 116, the electroniccommunication transmitted in a third time slot of the time interval andincluding an indication of an assignment of a fourth time slot of thetime interval to the first sensor device 116.

In various embodiments, the one or more methods may include establishingconnections with control devices 126 and user devices 106 with broadcastcommunication, receiving and processing mobile device responses, andassigning time intervals. For example, the adaptive gateway 110 maybroadcast a second electronic broadcast on one or more channels of theplurality of different channels, where the second electronic broadcastis broadcasted in a fifth time slot of the time interval. The adaptivegateway 110 may receive and process an electronic response from a firstendpoint control device 126 in response to the broadcasting of thesecond electronic broadcast, where the electronic response from thefirst endpoint control device 126 is received in a sixth time slot ofthe time interval. The adaptive gateway 110 may transmit an electroniccommunication to the first endpoint control device 126, the electroniccommunication transmitted in a seventh time slot of the time intervaland including an indication of an assignment of an eighth time slot ofthe time interval to the first endpoint control device 126. The adaptivegateway 110 may broadcast a third electronic broadcast on one or morechannels of the plurality of different channels, where the thirdelectronic broadcast is broadcasted in a ninth time slot of the timeinterval. The adaptive gateway 110 may receive and process an electronicresponse from a first mobile device 106 in response to the broadcastingof the third electronic broadcast, where the electronic response fromthe first mobile device 106 is received in a tenth time slot of the timeinterval. The adaptive gateway 110 may transmit an electroniccommunication to the first mobile device 106, the electroniccommunication transmitted in an eleventh time slot of the time intervaland including an indication of an assignment of a twelfth time slot ofthe time interval to the first mobile device.

In various embodiments, the one or more methods may include controllingthe serving of content and corresponding interface options andprocessing consequent selections. For example, the adaptive gateway 110may control serving of one or more content objects for rendering on thefirst mobile device 106 and facilitating one or more user-selectableinterface elements via the first mobile device 106. The adaptive gateway110 may receive and process indicia of one or more selectionscorresponding to the one or more user-selectable interface elements, theindicia received from the first mobile device 106. Responsive to theindicia received, the adaptive gateway 110 may transmit one or moretransmissions to instruct the endpoint control device 126 to perform anoperation with respect to a load. Further aspects of the one or moremethods are disclosed further herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a subsystem 300 to facilitate adaptive control, inaccordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. Thesubsystem 300 may correspond to aspects of the system 100. While thesubsystem 300 is illustrated as being composed of multiple components,it should be understood that the subsystem 300 may be broken into agreater number of components or collapsed into fewer components. Eachcomponent may include any one or combination of computerized hardware,software, and/or firmware. In various embodiments, the subsystem 300 mayinclude one or more adaptive processing and controlling devices 308 andone or more storage repositories 325, which may be included in thesystem controller 108 and/or adaptive gateway 110 and which may belocated on the premises or remotely therefrom such as in the cloud.

As disclosed herein, embodiments according to the present disclosureprovide technological solutions to multiple problems existing withconventional systems and approaches. Conventional systems and approachesare deficient in timeliness, adaptability, sensitivity, responsiveness,and providing access to food preparation control. The technicalimprovements provided by the system 100 include improvements intimeliness, adaptability, sensitivity, and responsiveness in machinecontrol for food preparation based at least in part on adaptivemachine-based control that is based at least in part on a learnedendpoint, load, and load preparation patterns, causes real-timeactivation adjustments 382, and causes appropriate multi-stage,multi-modal control and operation of sensors 116 in real-time dependingon the adjustment determinations where multiple stages of loadpreparation processes with different types of sensors are intelligentlytriggered in different ways as a function of the adjustmentdeterminations. Further, among other things, the technical improvementsprovided by disclosed embodiments solve problems associated withmultiplicities of sensor data being extremely computing-resourceintensive—which is especially problematic at scale when simultaneouslyhosting services for many user devices. While processing sensor-baseddata from a multiplicity of sensors is extremely computing-resourceintense, disclosed embodiments with selective, multi-stage sensorthrottling/adjustment can require significantly fewer computingresources than otherwise, reduce latency, and increase operational speedto provide faster access at scale to manifold endpoint devices.

As depicted, the subsystem 300 includes a system control engine 308,which may be included in the system controller 108 and may executed byone or more processors of the system controller 108 in some embodiments.The system control engine 308 may be communicatively coupled withinterface components and communication channels (which may take variousforms in various embodiments as disclosed herein) configured to receiveadjustment 382 input 302. As depicted, the adjustment 382 input 302 mayinclude sensor input 304.

The subsystem 300 may process sensor input 304 and analyze the sensorinput 304 to provide for adaptive control features disclosed herein. Thesensor input 304 may be captured by the sensors 116. The control engine308 may include a monitoring engine 336 configured to monitor theadjustment 382 input 302 for any suitable aspects pertaining to foodpreparation at the premises. In some embodiments, the monitoring engine336 may correspond to the monitoring and control module 120. The controlengine 308 may include a matching engine 338. The matching engine 338may correspond to a learning engine that includes logic to implementand/or otherwise facilitate any taxonomy, classification,categorization, correlation, mapping, qualification, scoring,organization, and/or the like features disclosed herein. In variousembodiments, the matching engine 338 may be configured to analyze,classify, categorize, characterize, tag, and/or annotate sensor-baseddata. The matching engine 338 may employ one or more artificialintelligence (machine learning or, more specifically, deep learning)algorithms to perform pattern matching to detect patterns of metrics ofthe sensor-based data.

The control engine 308 may include an adjustment engine 340 configuredto cause the one or more adjustments 382 disclosed herein. In someembodiments, the adjustment engine 340 may analyze input monitored bythe monitoring engine 336, determinations of the matching engine 338,and/or information stored in one or more repositories 325 to makeadjustment 382 determinations. Based at least in part on one or moreadjustment 382 determinations, the adjustment engine 340 may causeactivation of one or more adjustment 382 actions. The control engine 308may transmit one or more signals to one or more sensors 116, one or morecontrollers 126, one or more devices 136, and/or devices proximate tothe one or more device 136 to cause the one or more sensors 116, one ormore controllers 126, one or more devices 136, and/or proximate devicesperform one or more operations in accordance with the one or moreadjustment 382 determinations. In various embodiments, the proximatedevices may include one or more computing devices and/or display devicesof one or more types disclosed herein with respect to devices 106 and/orone or more automated devices with robotically controlled components(e.g., motorized tools configured to manipulate, flip, stir, move,introduce, remove, and/or otherwise handle load items with respect tothe heating device). The adjustments 382 may include any one orcombination of: causing activation, deactivation (e.g., operationalinterrupts to interrupt operations of the device), or modification ofoperational control settings and/or thresholds of one or both ofcontroller 126 and a heating device 136 to alter the heating mode and/ortemperature applied to one or more loads; causing a controller 126, adevice 136, and/or a proximate device to display content/indiciaindicating the adjustment determinations; causing activation,deactivation, or modification of operational control settings and/orthresholds of a proximate device to perform one or more operations withrespect to one or more loads according to the adjustment determinations;causing activation, deactivation, or modification of operational controlsettings and/or thresholds of one or more sensors 116 to operate withrespect to one or more loads and/or proximate area(s) according to theadjustment determinations (e.g., adjusting one or more times of one ormore operations of one or more sensors 116, adjusting one or moresampling rates of one or more sensors 116, activating one or moresensors 116 of one or more different types, and/or the like); causingone or more notifications to one or more devices 106 and/or 102 todisplay content/indicia indicating the adjustment determinations; adjustone or more thresholds for load preparation processes and/or triggeringother adjustments; and/or other like adjustments to facilitate featuresdisclosed herein.

The matching engine 338 may perform any one or combination of imagerecognition, location detection, temperature sensing, infraredimpressions, heat impressions, movement recognition, and/or the like.The matching engine 338 may be configured to match information for anindividual load captured via the monitoring engine 336 to one or morecategories from a set of categories 312 and corresponding loadpreparation specifications corresponding to adjustments 382 and each ofthe categories. The matching engine 338 may receive sensor datacorresponding to one or more individual loads and/or devices, identifyattributes of the one or more individual loads based at least in part onthe sensor data, match the one or more individual loads to one or morecategories from a category information repository 312, and identifyaspects of the device, devices states, one or more loads at the device,load states, and/or the environment proximate to the device and/or oneor more loads. Any suitable category may be employed to facilitateadjustment 382 features in accordance various embodiments. By way ofexample, category information may include categories and correspondingcriteria to qualify a load for particular categories such as a type ofload (e.g., a type of food item, meat, cut, and/or the like), a type ofload preparation process (e.g., frying, grilling, searing, baking,broiling, a particular external load temperature for a particular periodof time, and/or the like), a final load state (e.g., well done, mediumrare, medium well, an internal load temperature, and/or the like), aninterim load state (e.g., searing, a particular external loadtemperature for a particular period of time, and/or the like), and/orthe like.

The monitoring engine 336 may, for example, process sensor input 304enabling identification of motion with respect to a load at a heatingdevice. With such identification of motion with respect to a load, thesystem control engine 308 may infer and/or recognize load transitionsand states such as, for example, an introduction of the load to theheating device, one or more subsequent movements/repositioning of theload with respect to the heating device, removal of the load from theheating device, and/or the like. As another example, the monitoringengine 336 may process sensor input 304 enabling identification of alocation of a load with respect to the heating device. This may include,for example, the system control engine 308 inferring and/or recognizingin what section, area, quadrant, rack/level, etc. of the heating deviceis the load located, one or a combination of which may be identifiedwith one or more unique location identifiers. Further, the monitoringengine 336 may process sensor input 304 enabling identification of arelative location of a load with respect to one or more other loads.This may include, for example, the system control engine 308 inferringand/or recognizing one or more distances from a particular load to oneor more other proximate loads at the heating device in one or moredirections, along one, two, or three axes, and/or at a particular angle.As yet another example, the monitoring engine 336 may process sensorinput 304 enabling identification of one or more temperaturescorresponding to a load. This may include, for example, the systemcontrol engine 308 inferring and/or recognizing one or more settings ofthe heating device in one or more locations (e.g., sections, areas,etc.), one or more exterior temperatures of the load, one or moreinterior temperatures of the load, and/or the like.

As disclosed herein, the one or more sensors 116 may include, forexample, one or more cameras. The camera can be any device configured togenerate image and/or audio data including, for example, still imagedata, video image data, and/or any sound data, corresponding to detectedphenomena. The one or more sensors 116 of different types may includeinfrared sensors and/or heat sensors. In some embodiments, the camera(s)may include one or more infrared cameras. The camera(s) may, in someembodiments, include infrared sensors. The camera(s) may provide a videoand, in some embodiments, an audio stream. The matching engine 338 mayperform image analysis of image data captured with cameras to determineone or more image baselines for loads, areas proximate thereto, loadtypes, final load states, interim load states, and other loadcharacteristics disclosed herein. The visual characteristics of a loadmay be identified at least in part by formatting, rescaling, cropping,and/or otherwise preparing images (or portions of the images where theouter shapes are defined as boundaries) for further image processing.The matching engine 338 may include an image analyzer and handlingmodule, and may learn patterns of sensor-based data corresponding tovisual characteristics of the sensor-based data gathered regarding theloads such as one or a combination of colors and any visual metric basedat least in part on light detection—e.g., aggregate color palette, colorpalette as a function of time, changes in light, objects recognized,static/moving objects, pixel identification, detecting color componentvalues, detecting color codes, and/or the like. These different visualmetric types may be bases for various visual metric categories. Rangesof visual metric values for these different visual metric types may bemapped to visual metric categories.

Captured endpoint image data may be correlated to reference images usingany suitable object trait qualifications (e.g., size, shape, salientfeatures, corresponding colors, and/or the like) for correlation. Thematching engine 338 may link particular load image data and referenceimage data to loads specifications with image data associated with loadsto identify adjustments 382 needed. The reference image data may berefined over time as an image baseline(s) for a particular load type isdeveloped with additional data captures. Such reference images may beused by the system to identify consistencies/conformities and/orinconsistencies/non-conformities with respect to particularizedpatterns. When such consistencies/conformities and/orinconsistencies/nonconformities satisfy one or more thresholds, certainadjustments 382 may be caused. For example, when a detected load typeconforms to a specified load type pattern, the specified loadpreparation process may be continued, whereas, when a detected load typeis determined to not conform to the load type pattern, the specifiedload preparation process may be interrupted and one or morenotifications indicating the interrupt may be caused to be presented atthe controller 126, device 136, and/or one or more devices proximatethereto. As another example, when a detected current load state conformsto an interim load state pattern linked to the identified load type, thespecified load preparation process may be continued or transitioned tosubsequent load preparation process specified by rules 358 (which mayinclude one or more corresponding notifications indicating thetransition caused to be presented at the controller 126, device 136,and/or one or more devices proximate thereto), whereas, when a detectedcurrent load state is determined to not conform to the interim loadstate pattern, the specified load preparation process may be continueduntil the detected current load state is determined to conform to theinterim load state pattern. As yet another example, when a detectedcurrent load state conforms to a final load state pattern linked to theidentified load type, the specified load preparation process may bediscontinued and removal of the load from the device 136 may be caused(which may include one or more corresponding notifications indicatingthe removal caused to be presented at the controller 126, device 136,and/or one or more devices proximate thereto), whereas, when a detectedcurrent load state is determined to not conform to the final load statepattern, the specified load preparation process may be continued untilthe detected current load state is determined to conform to the finalload state pattern.

Additionally or alternatively, the matching engine 338 may performinfrared analysis of infrared data captured with infrared sensors todetermine one or more infrared baselines for loads and areas proximatethereto. Some embodiments may perform infrared analysis of heat datacaptured with heat sensors to determine one or more heat baselines forloads, areas proximate thereto, load types, final load states, interimload states, and other load characteristics disclosed herein. In variousembodiments, such data may correspond to infrared/heat sampling of aportion of the load or more comprehensive infrared/heat profiles andimages of the load and proximate area. Captured infrared and/or heatdata may be correlated to reference infrared and/or heat impressions.The matching engine 338 may link particular load infrared and/or heatimpressions to load specifications with infrared and/or heat impressionsassociated with loads to identify adjustments 382 needed. Like otherimage data, the reference infrared and/or heat impressions image datamay be refined over time as infrared and/or heat baseline(s) for aparticular load type are developed with additional data captures. Suchreference impressions may be used by the system to identifyconsistencies/conformities and/or inconsistencies/nonconformities withrespect to particularized patterns. When such consistencies/conformitiesand/or inconsistencies/nonconformities satisfy one or more thresholds,certain adjustments 382 may be caused as in the examples disclosedherein.

The one or more storage repositories 325 may include the rules 358. Insome embodiments, the rules 358 may include criteria for matching a setof indicia of individual load state to a set of one or more categories.In some embodiments, the rules 358 may include criteria for matching aset of one or more categories to a set of one or more controladjustments 382. In some embodiments, rules 358 may include one or morerules for matching a set of one or more image features (e.g., size,shape, salient features, corresponding colors, and/or the like) of adetected individual load to a set of one or more control adjustments382. By way of example, various specifications of the rules 358 maycorrespond to a specification of a type of load, a specification of aload preparation process, a specification of an exterior temperaturecorresponding to at least a portion of the load, a specification of aninterior temperature corresponding to at least a portion of the load, aspecification of an operation with respect to the load (e.g.,positioning of the load in a particular location with respect to theheating device, repositioning of the load, flipping of the load, aselection of a type of heating to be applied to the load, specificationof removal of the load from the heating device, certification ofstirring or mixing of components of the load, addition of components ofthe load, and/or the like), a specification for a continuous feed ofcertain type of sensor data capturing phenomena with respect to the load(e.g., a continuous video feed of the preparation of the load to beexposed via an interface 106 and/or 102, a specification for a certaintype of sensor data capturing phenomena with respect to the load whichmay be triggered upon sensing that a specified threshold has beenreached (e.g., provide rolling windows of sensor-captured phenomena,such as video of the load to be exposed via an interface 106 and/or 102when the threshold has been reached or for a period of time, such as 30seconds before and 30 seconds after a threshold has been reached), aspecification for a certain type of sensor data capturing phenomena withrespect to the load which may be triggered upon sensing that a specifiedoperation has been executed (e.g., provide rolling windows ofsensor-captured phenomena, such as video of the load to be exposed viaan interface 106 and/or 102 when the operation has been executed or fora period of time, such as 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after theoperation has been executed), temporal specifications governing when orhow long the above temperatures and/or operations are to be applied,and/or the like.

Some embodiments may allow for matching detected individual loads (e.g.,via image recognition) with other load types (e.g., using any suitableload trait qualifications for correlation). For example, the matchingengine 338 may link particular load to reference image data 359associated with particular load types to identify a known load type or anew load type. If it is determined that one or more of the individualload characteristics do not match load characteristics associated withone or more categories, it may be determined whether one or more of theload characteristics match another already categorized load. The one ormore load characteristics may be compared with those of anotherindividual load. If characteristics matched with a second individualload satisfy a threshold, the individual can be determined to match withthe category of the second individual load. Then, the individual loadcan be associated with the category of the second individual load.

The adjustment 382 input 302 may include user input 306. The user input306 may include real-time user control via a user interface (e.g., oneor more interfaces 106 and/or 102). The user input 306 may include oneor more communication signals received consequent to selection ofinterface elements of the interfaces 106 and/or 102 a correspond toindicia of one or combination of the following. The user input 306 maycorrespond to a selection of a type of load, a selection of a loadpreparation process, a selection of an exterior temperaturecorresponding to at least a portion of the load, a selection of aninterior temperature corresponding to at least a portion of the load, aselection of an operation with respect to the load (e.g., positioning ofthe load in a particular location with respect to the heating device,repositioning of the load, flipping of the load, a selection of a typeof heating to be applied to the load, specification of removal of theload from the heating device, certification of stirring or mixing ofcomponents of the load, addition of components of the load, and/or thelike), a request for a continuous feed of certain type of sensor datacapturing phenomena with respect to the load (e.g., a continuous videofeed of the preparation of the load to be exposed via an interface 106and/or 102, a request for a certain type of sensor data capturingphenomena with respect to the load which may be triggered upon sensingthat a specified threshold has been reached (e.g., provide rollingwindows of sensor-captured phenomena, such as video of the load to beexposed via an interface 106 and/or 102 when the threshold has beenreached or for a period of time, such as 30 seconds before and 30seconds after a threshold has been reached), a request for a certaintype of sensor data capturing phenomena with respect to the load whichmay be triggered upon sensing that a specified operation has beenexecuted (e.g., provide rolling windows of sensor-captured phenomena,such as video of the load to be exposed via an interface 106 and/or 102when the operation has been executed or for a period of time, such as 30seconds before and 30 seconds after the operation has been executed),temporal specifications governing when or how long the abovetemperatures and/or operations are to be applied, and/or the like.

The user input 306 may include previously acquired user preferences. Oneor more storage repositories 325 may store one or more user profiles357. User profiles 357 may include learned and inferred userpreferences. User profiles 357 may include profiles for multiple usersor may include a single profile for the system 100 in general. In someembodiments, a user is permitted to select which user profile of userprofiles 357 is active via a user interface. In some embodiments, userprofiles 357 may include preferences for particularized food preparationcontrols disclosed herein. The user profiles 357 may further includeuser feedback received from the user regarding customizations. Thefeedback data may be used to refine the customizations for particularindividuals and situations.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method 400 for adaptive control, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. One or acombination of the aspects of the method 400 may be performed inconjunction with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, and themethod 400 is to be interpreted in view of other features disclosedherein and may be combined with one or more of such features in variousembodiments. Teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in avariety of configurations that may correspond to the configurationsdisclosed herein. As such, certain aspects of the methods disclosedherein may be omitted, and the order of the steps may be shuffled in anysuitable manner and may depend on the implementation chosen. Moreover,while the aspects of the methods disclosed herein, may be separated forthe sake of description, it should be understood that certain steps maybe performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

As indicated by block 405, the system controller 108 may transmit one ormore transmissions to a controller 126, a device 136, and/or a proximatedevice to cause introduction of a load to a heating device 136. The oneor more transmissions may include a composite. The composite may includeinstructions and specifications as to the particular load type, a typeof load preparation process, a final load state, an interim load state,and/or the like. In some embodiments, such instructions andspecifications may be responsive to indicia of one or more selectionscorresponding to one or more user-selectable interface elementspresented by a device 106, the indicia received from the device 106. Insome embodiments, the controller 126, the device 136, and/or theproximate device may consequently cause presentation of a graphicalindication corresponding to one or more aspects of the composite on adisplay device. In some embodiments, the controller 126, the device 136,and/or the proximate device may consequently cause introduction of aload to the heating device 136 in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe composite.

As indicated by block 410, the system controller 108 may receive andprocess input from a first set of one or more sensors 116communicatively coupled to the system controller 108. Such input may beconsequent to the first set of one or more sensors 116 detecting indiciaof a presence of the load on a portion of the heating device 136, theinput corresponding to the detected indicia of the presence of the load.In some embodiments, sensor data corresponding to the detected indiciaof the presence of the load (e.g., one or more images, video) and/orcontent composite indicating the detected indicia of the presence of theload may be transmitted by the system controller 116 to the device 106for presentation with the device 106.

As indicated by block 415, the system controller 108 may receive andprocess the input from the first set of one or more sensors 116 todetermine a location of the load with respect to the heating device 136.In some embodiments, sensor data corresponding to the determinedlocation of the load (e.g., one or more images, video) and/or contentcomposite indicating the determined location of the load may betransmitted by the system controller 116 to the device 106 forpresentation with the device 106.

As indicated by block 420, the system controller 108 may receive inputfrom a second set of one or more sensors 116 communicatively coupled tothe system controller 108, consequent to the second set of one or moresensors 116 detecting indicia of temperature corresponding to the load.As indicated by block 425, the system controller 108 may process theinput from the second set of one or more sensors 116 to determine atemperature corresponding to the load based at least in part on theinput. In some embodiments, the temperature may be determined based atleast in part on one or more operational settings of the heating device136 mapped to the detected location of the load. In various embodiments,the temperature may be determined based at least in part on sensor datacaptured by a heat sensor 116, an infrared sensor 116, and/or an imagesensor 116.

The temperature may correspond to an external temperature of at least anexternal portion of the load. Additionally or alternatively, thetemperature may correspond to an internal temperature of at least aninternal portion of the load. In various embodiments, the systemcontroller 108 may calculate or otherwise determine the temperature atleast in part by correlating sensor data (e.g., heat data, infrareddata, image data) of the load to reference sensor data 359 (e.g.,pattern data, reference images) as disclosed herein. In someembodiments, one or more internal temperatures may be estimated fromsensor data of external portions of the load. Such estimations may bebased upon correlation data gathered by the system. In some embodiments,the correlation data may be learned by the system based at least in parton past patterns of external sensor data of loads of particular loadtypes and load size categories matched with indicia of internal loadtemperatures. The indicia of internal load temperatures may correspondto one or a combination of sensor data from sensor devices that measureinternal load temperatures (e.g., when the sensor devices areautomatically and robotically applied or when the sensor devices aremanually applied and the sensor data is communicated from the sensordevices in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein) and/or userinput of internal temperature data. The correlations of external sensormetrics of loads to internal temperatures may be refined over time withfeedback features disclosed herein, which may include presentation ofestimated internal temperatures with one or more of the display deviceis disclosed herein along with interface elements to prompt a userinput/feedback regarding the estimations. The correlations of externalsensor metrics of loads (e.g., image data from image sensors) may belikewise correlated to particular load types and load size categories sothat the system learns to recognize particular load types. The load sizecategories may be determined by the system based at least in part onmatching one or both of image data and weight data from weight sensorsto reference image data and weight data mapped to particular load sizecategories. The load size categories may be differentiated based atleast in part on dimensions to take into account varying thicknesses andweights. Again, such correlations may be refined over time with feedbackfeatures. In some embodiments, sensor data corresponding to thedetermined temperature (e.g., one or more images, video) and/or contentcomposite indicating the determined temperature may be transmitted bythe system controller 116 to the device 106 for presentation with thedevice 106.

As indicated by block 430, the system controller 108 may receive andprocess input received from a set of one or more devices. In someembodiments, the set of one or more devices may include the device 106.The system controller 108 may receive and process the input from thedevice 106, the input corresponding to one or more selections ofinterface elements at the device 106. In various embodiments, the set ofone or more devices may include the first set of one or more sensors 116or a third set of one or more sensors 116. In some embodiments, thefirst set of one or more sensors 116 may include a first type of sensor,for example, a weight sensor or a motion sensor disposed in configuredto detect the presence/introduction of the load on the device 136,whereas the second and third sets of one or more sensors 116 may includeone or more different types of sensor that are different from the firsttype. For example, in some embodiments, the second set of one or moresensors 116 may include a second type of sensor may correspond to a heatsensor and/or an infrared sensor, whereas the third set of one or moresensors 116 may include a third type of sensor (e.g., an image sensor)that is different from the second type.

As indicated by block 435, the system controller 108 may analyze theinput from the first set of one or more sensors 116 or from the thirdset of one or more sensors 116 to determine a state of the load in thelocation based at least in part on the input. The load state maycorrespond to one or more load states disclosed herein, and such loadstate determination may correspond to one or more embodiments disclosedherein. For example, in some embodiments, the state of the load maycorrespond to an activity or inactivity with respect to the load in thelocation with respect to at least a threshold period of time. This maycorrespond to how long the load has been in a particular position on theheating device 136 without being moved/flipped. Other examples aredisclosed herein, such as how close to a final load state the load is,has the color profile of the load changed so that the current colorprofile matches an interim load state or a final load state, how longhas a particular temperature or temperature range (e.g., plus or minustwo degrees) been applied to at least an external portion of the load,and/or the like, one or a combination of which may be analyzed andevaluated with respect to one or more patterns and/or profiles asdisclosed herein. In some embodiments, sensor data corresponding to thecurrent load state (e.g., one or more images, video) and/or contentcomposite indicating the current load state may be transmitted by thesystem controller 116 to the device 106 for presentation with the device106.

As indicated by block 440, the system controller 108 may determine anadjustment 382 based at least in part on the temperature and the inputfrom the set of one or more devices. In some embodiments, thedetermining the adjustment 382 may be based at least in part on thedetermined load state. As indicated by block 445, the system controller108 may cause the heating device 136 and/or one or more devicesproximate to the heating device 136 to activate, deactivate, and/orchange the setting in accordance with the adjustment 382. The adjustment382 may correspond to activating, deactivating, and/or changing asetting of the heating device 136 and/or one or more devices coupledwith the heating device 136 to cause a change corresponding to the load.As in some examples disclosed herein, the change may be in one or bothof a change in position of the load and a change in temperaturecorresponding to at least part of the load. Such a change may correspondto flipping, removing, and/or otherwise moving the load. Such a changemay correspond to the heating device 136 increasing or decreasing atemperature applied to the load in the location. As disclosed herein,the causing may include sending a signal to activate a visual indicatorof the controller 126, device 136, and/or proximate device to indicatethe adjustment on a display. In some embodiments, sensor datacorresponding to the change in the load and/or content compositeindicating the change may be transmitted by the system controller 116 tothe device 106 for presentation with the device 106.

Multiple iterations of one or a combination of the example operations ofthe method 400 may be may be performed throughout the load preparationprocess, with various different load state detections anddeterminations, and adjustments. Various embodiments are possible. Forexample, in some embodiments, the system controller 108 may determine aninitial adjustment 382 and a steady-state adjustment 382 based at leastin part on the location, the determined temperature, and the currentload state. The initial adjustment 382 and the steady-state adjustment382 corresponding to activating, deactivating, and/or changing a settingof heating device 136 and/or one or more proximate devices to cause atleast two changes in temperature with respect to at least a portion ofthe load for different time periods. The initial adjustment 382 maycause a higher temperature to be applied for an initial time period(e.g., one minute), whereas the steady-state adjustment 382 may cause alower temperature to be applied for subsequent time period (e.g., fiveminutes) after the initial time period.

As disclosed herein, one or more sets of one or more sensors 116 may beintelligently activated to operate with different modes of operation atdifferent points in the load preparation process. For example, theactivation of the first set of one or more sensors 116 may correspond toa first mode of operation, the activation of the second set of one ormore sensors 116 may correspond to a second mode of operation, etc. Amode of sensor operation may include sensor activation such that thesensor is in an on state, or a detection state, as a function of time.Activation of one or more sensors 116 may be time-based and/orevent-based throughout a load preparation process. For instance, onemode of operation may include sensor activation activated for detectionand image capture responsive to a user request 302, with such activationbeing maintained for one or more specified durations. As anotherinstance, a mode of operation may include a sensor 116 being activatedrepeatedly at regular intervals, random intervals, and/or upontriggering by the system controller 106 according to specifications ofthe load preparation process. A mode of sensor operation may includesensor activation such that the sensor operates according to one or morespecified rates, for example, sampling rates. One mode of operation maycorrespond to a first sampling rate (e.g., number of frames per second,duration of video recording, number of still image captures per minute,number of images in a burst of still image captures, and/or the like),whereas a second mode of operation may correspond to a second samplingrate (e.g., a higher sampling rate may be selected as the load isdetected to be nearing a final load state). In various embodiments,sensors 116 may be activated to capture rolling windows of sensor datawhen load states change and/or at times when one or more of the methodsteps are performed. Accordingly, some embodiments may trigger and/orthrottle sensor activation at various times, with sensor data capturebeing terminated or decreased at other times throughout a loadpreparation process.

FIG. 5 illustrates certain aspects of the system 100, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 includes a block diagramof one non-limiting example of a sensor device 116 configured to makeuse of and interact with an adaptive gateway 110, in accordance withdisclosed embodiments of the present disclosure. The sensor device 116may be a portable device suitable for sending and receiving informationto/from the adaptive gateway 110 in accordance with embodimentsdescribed herein. In some embodiments, the sensor device 116 may beprovided with an application 551 or other form of software, which may beconfigured to run on the sensor device 116 to facilitate variousembodiments of this disclosure. For example, execution of theapplication 551 or other software may cause the sensor device 116 tooperate in accordance with protocols and methods disclosed herein tofacilitate features of various embodiments. In various embodiments, theapplication 551 can be any suitable computer program that can beinstalled and run on the sensor device 116, and, in some embodiments,the application 551 may be another type of application, set ofapplications, and/or other executable code configured to facilitateembodiments disclosed herein. The application 551 may be provided in anysuitable way. For example, the application 551 or other code may be madeavailable from a website, an application store, the service provider102, etc. for download to the sensor device 116; alternatively, it maybe pre-installed on the sensor device 116.

The sensor device 116 may include a memory 544 communicatively coupledto a processor 526 (e.g., a microprocessor) for processing the functionsof the sensor device 116. The sensor device 116 can also include atleast one computer-readable medium 546 coupled to the processor 526,which stores application programs and other computer code instructionsfor operating the device, such as an operating system (OS) 548. In someembodiments, the application 551 or other software may be stored in thememory 544 and/or computer-readable media 546. Again, the example ofsensor device 116 is non-limiting. Other devices, such as thosedisclosed herein, may be used.

In various embodiments, the sensor device 116 may include a display 520and/or other output elements 552. In some embodiments, the sensor device116 may include input elements 532 to allow a user to input informationinto the sensor device 116. By way of example, the input elements 532may include one or more of a keypad, a trackball, a touchscreen, atouchpad, a pointing device, a microphone, a voice recognition device,or any other appropriate mechanism for the user to provide input. Invarious embodiments, the sensor device 116 may provide one or moredisplay screens that may each include one or more user interfaceelements. A user interface may include any text, image, and/or devicethat can be displayed on a display screen for providing information to auser and/or for receiving user input. A user interface may include oneor more widgets, text, text boxes, text fields, tables, grids, charts,hyperlinks, buttons, lists, combo boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons,and/or the like. In some embodiments, the sensor device 116 may includea speaker 542 to provide audio output to the user.

In some embodiments, the sensor device 116 may include at least oneantenna for wireless data transfer to communicate with an adaptivegateway 110 as disclosed herein. The antenna may include a cellularantenna (e.g., for sending and receiving cellular voice and datacommunication, such as through a network such as a 3G, 4G, or 5Gnetwork). The communications interfaces 544 can provide one or morewireless communication interfaces to facilitate communications with anadaptive gateway 110 according to one or more of the communicationsprotocols disclosed herein, e.g., with respect to the modules 336 of theadaptive gateway 110 (e.g., 433 MHz, 915 MHz, etc.), WiFi, Bluetooth(BLE), LTE, 5G, 4G, etc.).

The sensor device 116 may include one or more sensors 510 that may, forexample, include one or a combination of proximity sensors, motiondetectors, light sensors, cameras, infrared sensors, vibrationaldetectors, microphones, other audio sensors, temperature sensors,humidity sensors, barometric sensors, RFID detectors, reed switches,and/or the like configured to implement sensor IoT protocols disclosedherein. The sensor device 116 may store sensor data in thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium 546 and/or the memory544. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium 546 can alsoinclude a sensor data processing engine 546(a) configured to performprocessing of sensor data captured by the sensor(s) 510 to analyze,aggregate, consolidate, reformat, and/or other prepare the sensor datafor transmission to an adaptive gateway 110. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that substantial variations may be made inaccordance with specific requirements. For example, customized hardwaremight also be used, and/or particular elements might be implemented inhardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.),or both.

FIG. 6 illustrates aspects of a computer system 600 that may beincorporated as part of the system controller 106, devices 102, 106,116, 126, and/or 136 in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure.FIG. 6 provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computersystem 600 that can perform various steps of the methods provided byvarious embodiments. It should be noted that FIG. 6 is meant only toprovide a generalized illustration of various components, any or all ofwhich may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 6, therefore, broadlyillustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in arelatively separated or relatively more integrated manner.

The computer system 600 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 605 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one ormore processors 610, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, video decoders, and/or the like); one or more input devices615, which can include without limitation a mouse, a keyboard, remotecontrol, and/or the like; and one or more output devices 620, which caninclude without limitation a display device, a printer, and/or the like.

The computer system 600 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more non-transitory storage devices 625, which cancomprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage,and/or can include, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, anoptical storage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a randomaccess memory (“RAM”), and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices maybe configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer system 600 might also include a communications subsystem630, which can include without limitation a modem, a network card(wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wirelesscommunication device, and/or a chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a Wi-Fi device, a WiMAX device, cellular communicationdevice, etc.), and/or the like. The communications subsystem 630 maypermit data to be exchanged with a network (such as the networkdescribed below, to name one example), other computer systems, and/orany other devices described herein. In many embodiments, the computersystem 600 will further comprise a working memory 635, which can includea RAM or ROM device, as described above.

The computer system 600 also can comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within the working memory 635, including anoperating system 640, device drivers, executable libraries, and/or othercode, such as one or more application programs 645, which may comprisecomputer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or may bedesigned to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as thenon-transitory storage device(s) 625 described above. In some cases, thestorage medium might be incorporated within a computer system, such ascomputer system 600. In other embodiments, the storage medium might beseparate from a computer system (e.g., a removable medium, such as acompact disc), and/or provided in an installation package, such that thestorage medium can be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a generalpurpose computer with the instructions/code stored thereon. Theseinstructions might take the form of executable code, which is executableby the computer system 600 and/or might take the form of source and/orinstallable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on thecomputer system 600 (e.g., using any of a variety of generally availablecompilers, installation programs, compression/decompression utilities,etc.), then takes the form of executable code.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer system (such as the computer system 600) to perform methods inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. According to a setof embodiments, some or all of the procedures of such methods areperformed by the computer system 600 in response to processor 610executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions (which mightbe incorporated into the operating system 640 and/or other code, such asan application program 645) contained in the working memory 635. Suchinstructions may be read into the working memory 635 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as one or more of the non-transitorystorage device(s) 625. Merely by way of example, execution of thesequences of instructions contained in the working memory 635 mightcause the processor(s) 610 to perform one or more procedures of themethods described herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium,” “computer-readable storage medium,”“computer-readable medium,” and that plural forms thereof as usedherein, refer to any medium or media that participate in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. These mediumsmay be non-transitory. In an embodiment implemented using the computersystem 600, various computer-readable media might be involved inproviding instructions/code to processor(s) 610 for execution and/ormight be used to store and/or carry such instructions/code. In manyimplementations, a computer-readable medium is a physical and/ortangible storage medium. Such a medium may take the form of anon-volatile media or volatile media. Non-volatile media include, forexample, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as the non-transitorystorage device(s) 625. Volatile media include, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 635.

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, any other physical medium with patterns of marks, a RAM, a PROM,EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any othermedium from which a computer can read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 610for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer system 600.

The communications subsystem 630 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive signals, and the bus 605 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 635, from which the processor(s) 610 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 635 may optionally be stored on a non-transitory storage device625 either before or after execution by the processor(s) 610.

It should further be understood that the components of computer system600 can be distributed across a network. For example, some processingmay be performed in one location using a first processor while otherprocessing may be performed by another processor remote from the firstprocessor. Other components of computer system 600 may be similarlydistributed. As such, computer system 600 may be interpreted as adistributed computing system that performs processing in multiplelocations. In some instances, computer system 600 may be interpreted asa single computing device, such as a distinct laptop, desktop computer,or the like, depending on the context.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousconfigurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods may be performed in an order different from that described,and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined. Also,features described with respect to certain configurations may becombined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elementsof the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also,technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and donot limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example configurations (including implementations).However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details.For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, andtechniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoidobscuring the configurations. This description provides exampleconfigurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, orconfigurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of theconfigurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enablingdescription for implementing described techniques. Various changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted asa flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe theoperations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps notincluded in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium.Processors may perform the described tasks.

Having described several example configurations, various modifications,alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departingfrom the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements maybe components of a larger system, wherein other rules may takeprecedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention.Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after theabove elements are considered.

Furthermore, the example embodiments described herein may be implementedas logical operations in a computing device in a networked computingsystem environment. The logical operations may be implemented as: (i) asequence of computer implemented instructions, steps, or program modulesrunning on a computing device; and (ii) interconnected logic or hardwaremodules running within a computing device.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unlessotherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. The indefinitearticles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to meanone or more than one of the element that the particular articleintroduces; and subsequent use of the definite article “the” is notintended to negate that meaning. Furthermore, the use of ordinal numberterms, such as “first,” “second,” etc., to clarify different elements inthe claims is not intended to impart a particular position in a series,or any other sequential character or order, to the elements to which theordinal number terms have been applied.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for adaptive control for food preparation,the method comprising: receiving, by a control device, first input froma first set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to thecontrol device, consequent to the first set of one or more sensorsdetecting indicia of a presence of a load on a portion of a heatingdevice, the first input corresponding to the detected indicia of thepresence of the load; processing, by the control device, the first inputfrom the first set of one or more sensors to determine a location of theload with respect to the heating device; receiving, by the controldevice, second input from a second set of one or more sensorscommunicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to the secondset of one or more sensors detecting indicia of temperaturecorresponding to the load; processing, by the control device, the secondinput from the second set of one or more sensors to determine atemperature corresponding to the load based at least in part on thesecond input; processing, by the control device, third input receivedfrom a set of one or more devices, and determining an adjustment basedat least in part on the temperature and the third input, the adjustmentcorresponding to activating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting ofthe heating device and/or one or more devices coupled with the heatingdevice to cause a change corresponding to the load; and causing, by thecontrol device, the heating device and/or one or more devices proximateto the heating device to activate, deactivate, and/or change the settingin accordance with the adjustment.
 2. The method for adaptive controlfor food preparation as recited in claim 1, where the temperaturecorresponds to a temperature of an external portion of the load.
 3. Themethod for adaptive control for food preparation as recited in claim 1,where the temperature corresponds to a temperature of an internalportion of the load.
 4. The method for adaptive control for foodpreparation as recited in claim 1, where the set of one or more devicescomprises the first set of one or more sensors or a third set of one ormore sensors, and the method further comprises: analyzing, by thecontrol device, the third input from the first set of one or moresensors or from the third set of one or more sensors to determine astate of the load in the location based at least in part on the thirdinput; where the determining the adjustment is based at least in part onthe state of the load.
 5. The method for adaptive control for foodpreparation as recited in claim 4, where the state of the loadcorresponds to an activity or inactivity with respect to the load in thelocation with respect to at least a threshold period of time.
 6. Themethod for adaptive control for food preparation as recited in claim 1,where the set of one or more devices comprises a mobile device, and themethod further comprises: processing, by the control device, the thirdinput from the mobile device; where the determining the adjustment isbased at least in part on the third input.
 7. The method for adaptivecontrol for food preparation as recited in claim 1, where the causingcomprises causing cause a change in one or both of position andtemperature corresponding to the load.
 8. A system to facilitateadaptive control for food preparation, the system comprising: one ormore processing devices; and memory communicatively coupled with andreadable by the one or more processing devices and having stored thereinmachine-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or moreprocessing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to performoperations comprising: receiving first input from a first set of one ormore sensors communicatively coupled to the control device, consequentto the first set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of a presenceof a load on a portion of a heating device, the first inputcorresponding to the detected indicia of the presence of the load;processing the first input from the first set of one or more sensors todetermine a location of the load with respect to the heating device;receiving second input from a second set of one or more sensorscommunicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to the secondset of one or more sensors detecting indicia of temperaturecorresponding to the load; processing the second input from the secondset of one or more sensors to determine a temperature corresponding tothe load based at least in part on the second input; processing thirdinput received from a set of one or more devices, and determining anadjustment based at least in part on the temperature and the thirdinput, the adjustment corresponding to activating, deactivating, and/orchanging a setting of the heating device and/or one or more devicescoupled with the heating device to cause a change corresponding to theload; and causing the heating device and/or one or more devicesproximate to the heating device to activate, deactivate, and/or changethe setting in accordance with the adjustment.
 9. The system tofacilitate adaptive control for food preparation as recited in claim 8,where the temperature corresponds to a temperature of an externalportion of the load.
 10. The system to facilitate adaptive control forfood preparation as recited in claim 8, where the temperaturecorresponds to a temperature of an internal portion of the load.
 11. Thesystem to facilitate adaptive control for food preparation as recited inclaim 8, where the set of one or more devices comprises the first set ofone or more sensors or a third set of one or more sensors, and theoperations further comprise: analyzing the third input from the firstset of one or more sensors or from the third set of one or more sensorsto determine a state of the load in the location based at least in parton the third input; where the determining the adjustment is based atleast in part on the state of the load.
 12. The system to facilitateadaptive control for food preparation as recited in claim 11, where thestate of the load corresponds to an activity or inactivity with respectto the load in the location with respect to at least a threshold periodof time.
 13. The system to facilitate adaptive control for foodpreparation as recited in claim 12, where the set of one or more devicescomprises a mobile device, and the operations further comprise:processing the third input from the mobile device; where the determiningthe adjustment is based at least in part on the third input.
 14. Thesystem to facilitate adaptive control for food preparation as recited inclaim 8, where the causing comprises causing cause a change in one orboth of position and temperature corresponding to the load.
 15. One ormore non-transitory, machine-readable media having machine-readableinstructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processingdevices, cause the one or more processing devices to perform operationscomprising: receiving first input from a first set of one or moresensors communicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to thefirst set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of a presence of aload on a portion of a heating device, the first input corresponding tothe detected indicia of the presence of the load; processing the firstinput from the first set of one or more sensors to determine a locationof the load with respect to the heating device; receiving second inputfrom a second set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to thecontrol device, consequent to the second set of one or more sensorsdetecting indicia of temperature corresponding to the load; processingthe second input from the second set of one or more sensors to determinea temperature corresponding to the load based at least in part on thesecond input; processing third input received from a set of one or moredevices, and determining an adjustment based at least in part on thetemperature and the third input, the adjustment corresponding toactivating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of the heatingdevice and/or one or more devices coupled with the heating device tocause a change corresponding to the load; and causing the heating deviceand/or one or more devices proximate to the heating device to activate,deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the adjustment.16. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media as recited inclaim 15, where the temperature corresponds to a temperature of anexternal portion of the load.
 17. The one or more non-transitory,machine-readable media as recited in claim 15, where the temperaturecorresponds to a temperature of an internal portion of the load.
 18. Theone or more non-transitory, machine-readable media as recited in claim15, where the set of one or more devices comprises the first set of oneor more sensors or a third set of one or more sensors, and theoperations further comprise: analyzing the third input from the firstset of one or more sensors or from the third set of one or more sensorsto determine a state of the load in the location based at least in parton the third input; where the determining the adjustment is based atleast in part on the state of the load.
 19. The one or morenon-transitory, machine-readable media as recited in claim 18, where thestate of the load corresponds to an activity or inactivity with respectto the load in the location with respect to at least a threshold periodof time.
 20. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media asrecited in claim 19, where the set of one or more devices comprises amobile device, and the operations further comprise: processing the thirdinput from the mobile device; where the determining the adjustment isbased at least in part on the third input.